Kitchen Wendy's Herbals Cleaning Tips Laundry Tips On Being a Helpmeet Stewardship Hyperemesis Gravidarum How I Found Fulfillment and Meaning Wendy's Page Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. I was born Thanksgiving Day 1968 which suits me since I am very thankful for all the Lord has done in my life. I came to know Christ when I was 7 years old. The gospel was so clear to me and my need for Jesus was even clearer! I believe in and strive to live by Titus 2:3-5 and Proverbs 31 womanhood. I grew up in rural VA surrounded by farmlands. I knew at the age of 15 that I wanted to bear children and stay at home to care for them. Through watching my own mother's struggle with working while caring for a family, I knew that I wanted something different. Since I believed that raising children to the glory of the Lord was the most important job a woman could do, I knew I wanted to stay at home with mine, whenever they came. I still assumed that I would stay home only until my future children were in school and then work part time. I figured I would have 2 children and then get "the surgery" that seems to be a rite of passage nowadays. Boy, the Lord sure had other plans for me...and I am glad He did!! I attended public school for K and a Christian school until 10th grade. For my last 2 years, I enjoyed frequenting the halls of Forest Glen High where I met my husband Clint in 1985. I had come to a very low point in my life and was wondering how things would work out. I let it all out to God in prayer at the exact time of the space shuttle Challenger tragedy. I was sitting on a 3-wheeler petting my dear kitty, Gonzo, wondering why life looked so bleak and asked the Lord to send me someone who would love me dearly. And 2 weeks later.... ...in comes Prince Clint Charming!! We were close friends at first and then started dating April 16, 1986. We exchanged class rings April 17 and have not been apart since. One of the things I asked Clint before we became seriously committed was if he knew the Lord. He did! Clint wanted his wife to stay home and mother his children, which fit with what the Lord had put on my own heart. Weeks later, at lunch during school, Clint told my friends Kim, Cindy and Michelle that he would marry me. We graduated in 1987 and eloped August 24, 1988. The reason we eloped was because of all of the negativity we were getting because of our age. We knew what we wanted and didn't listen to the nay-sayers, who all had so many problems in their own lives, we didn't understand why they were minding ours. Most of the people that gave us 6 months until WE failed have been divorced at least once since then. We were married by a Christian man named H. Murdock. He really showed concern for us and gave us the best little ceremony he could which included the Lord through a prayer of blessing for our marriage. There were only two people at that time who encouraged us in our marriage. Nowadays, our still very close relationship with each other gets noticed often and we have counseled others coping with problems in their marriages. It is a very humbling experience to be asked to help others marriages and we do it with lots of of prayer and caution. We give all of the praise and glory to the Lord for our rare jewel of a marriage,which has others asking us what our secret is. It's not us..if it were reliant on us, we would fail. It's HIM! I attended some college after school, but just felt is wasn't "right" for me. I didn't know it at the time, but it was the Lord working in my life to preserve me for motherhood. Then, still searching for how I would spend my time, I worked various jobs and did quite well in the banking industry, but still, I was unsettled and restless. I wanted to be a stay-at-home mother, but I didn't have children so I figured I should work. Finally, I quit working in 1990 because the Lord was again working in me. I have had peace about my day to day life since. We tried having a baby right away when we were first married. I had some health problems cause hospitalization and strange things happened to my body. We were unable to conceive for 3 years. Doctors were not very optimistic about me having children. Again, the Lord had other plans!! Brandon was born in 1992. Clint and I realized then that we wanted the best for our children and recommitted our lives to Christ when he was still in womb. Then, Amanda came in 1994. In 1995, we settled down in a farm house that needed remodeling. It is still being remodeled. :-) It is not a fancy house by any means, but it has made a wonderful home! Also in 1995, Clint and I suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage. It was through our sorrow that we were able to hear what God had to say about children and the womb in Scripture. We committed to being a full quiver family and I can not tell you how the Lord has blessed us since then. Taking that one, big leap of faith brought us so much joy and grew us as Christians in immeasurable ways. We are ever so grateful God led us down this path. Joshua was born 1999 during Hurricane Floyd. He smiled as soon as he saw me and has been smiling ever since. Caleb, my 5th child was born at home in 20 minutes. Clint delivered him on our bed and took care of the whole family. We could feel the Lord sheltering us in peace and safety. It was a delight to my soul to see sweet tears of joy in Clint's eyes as he handed me my son for the first time. Bethany was born during Hurricane Isabel on September 17, 2003. She had to come home to a flooded house, but it was and still is filled with a lot of love. Sadly, we lost 2 babies after Bethany. Clint and I hold on to the promise of reuniting with Sarah Paige, Rebecca Peace and Josiah Daniel in Heaven when our work here is done. We eagerly welcomed Emily Joy into our lives on July 2007. We are expecting our 7th child through our 10th pregnancy in January 2009. I suffer with hyperemesis gravidarum (excessive vomitting that lasts the whole pregnancy for me) in all of my pregnancies except the first child I miscarried and Caleb's. I pleaded with the Lord to take it away before Caleb was ever conceived and He did. I have grown spiritually and learned something about myself and my relationship with the Almighty with each child I have carried in my womb. I enjoy doing many things and am constantly trying to learn how to do something new. I love being a stay at home mother and homeschooling my blessings. I am also interested in crafting, gardening, cooking, studying herbal medicine, etc. I sell used textbooks as time allows as a way to help other homeschooling families obtain inexpensive learning materials. It allows me a little spending money for extras for our homeschool. Doing this lets me meet and help other families, which is always a joy! I also make and sell homemade Goat's Milk Soap from time to time. I am a Certified Herbalist and treat my family, pets and livestock with herbal and natural medicines, but I am not extremely opposed to allopathic medicine. I do believe the more natural, the better! If you would like to write, please do! I love hearing from other families and getting a peek into their lives. I love to hear about the cultural differences from place to place, even in the US. Depending on how my duties are being fulfilled, I can't guarantee an immediate response, but I will write back! back to the Farm Kitchen Wendy's Herbals Cleaning Tips Laundry Tips On Being a Helpmeet Stewardship Hyperemesis Gravidarum How I Found Fulfillment and Meaning |